One on One ~ Moria Reynolds
Winter 2010
The Steering Committee recently heard that Moria Reynolds, creator of PoCards [Promotional Postcards], earns and spends about a thousand dollars of RiverHOURS each year. Bruce Bolme thought that was an impressively large amount and wanted to learn more. They shared a delightful lunch together while she answered some questions.
Bruce Bolme: Tell our readers about yourself.
Moria Reynolds: I’m
grateful to have found ‘my people’ here in the Gorge.
My personal life and
business philosophy are right at home in Hood River- keep it Green, Local and Unique.
BB: What originally drew you to the Gorge and where did you live before?
MR: I had been living in Mexico for three years
helping run my family
business. I was inspired to move back to the states when I heard about Hood River- a progressive community, with fun, young people in a beautiful setting.
BB: How long have you lived in the Gorge?
MR: Since March 2002.
BB: Tell us about PoCards.
MR: PoCards tell a story. If you see a PoCard you like, chances are you will like the business that made it and you will want to share it with your friends- this is the heart behind branding and marketing with free postcards!
BB: How do RiverHOURS fit into your personal
philosophy?
MR: PoCards and
RiverHOURS are a natural fit. They both are about creating community.
When I first heard about RiverHOURS, I started thinking about how I could be a part of it and help it grow.
BB: When did you begin accepting RiverHOURS?
MR: Two years after I first heard of RiverHOURS, I was working for the Hood River Downtown Business Association [HRDBA] as interim Executive Director. Our major fundraising event lost its lead sponsor.
The HRDBA and GLCC
accepted my proposal to allow the GLCC to sponsor the event for $2,500 in RHs and I would accept my
salary in RHs. The plan
was that the HRDBA
would encourage businesses to get on board, I would
be motivated to work with the businesses and the GLCC would get exposure and a much needed
marketing boost.
BB: Why did you decide to accept them?
MR: RiverHOURS are a tangible means of getting
the ‘Buy Local’ message
into customer’s wallets and
businesses tills.
I believe that a strong local economy is built upon relationships and my PoCards business is built on strengthening relationships in a community.
BB: Where do you
earn and spend your
RiverHOURS?
MR: I spend my
RiverHOURS with the businesses that pay me in RHs. I buy food from Mother’s Marketplace; clothing and gifts from
Ruddy Duck; lunches and dinners at Solstice Café. Also I use them to tip baristas at coffee shops. I am happy to be a place where businesses considering participating in RHs can spend them. It makes me feel a strong sense of community with those businesses I exchange RH with.
BB: Do you think
RiverHOURS can help
the local economy?
MR: I would like to see more businesses utilizing RHs as a tool to engage
the community in the
‘Buy Local’ message.
RiverHOURS are still young. It takes time and the right circumstances [and
possibly a champion] to move this powerful tool
into the mainstream.
BB: What advice do you have for people who want to start their own business here?
MR: Find and fill an unmet need in the community.
BB: What plans do you have for yourself?
MR: Looking forward to … traveling to Mexico for the winter. I will be working while I’m on the road as PoCards continues to grow here and in other communities such as Bend and Aspen, CO- the plan is to expand licensing into more
communities in the
Northwest in 2010.
For more information, you can call Moria at
541-400-9510. Visit her PoCards website at
pocards.net.
Winter 2010
The Steering Committee recently heard that Moria Reynolds, creator of PoCards [Promotional Postcards], earns and spends about a thousand dollars of RiverHOURS each year. Bruce Bolme thought that was an impressively large amount and wanted to learn more. They shared a delightful lunch together while she answered some questions.
Bruce Bolme: Tell our readers about yourself.
Moria Reynolds: I’m
grateful to have found ‘my people’ here in the Gorge.
My personal life and
business philosophy are right at home in Hood River- keep it Green, Local and Unique.
BB: What originally drew you to the Gorge and where did you live before?
MR: I had been living in Mexico for three years
helping run my family
business. I was inspired to move back to the states when I heard about Hood River- a progressive community, with fun, young people in a beautiful setting.
BB: How long have you lived in the Gorge?
MR: Since March 2002.
BB: Tell us about PoCards.
MR: PoCards tell a story. If you see a PoCard you like, chances are you will like the business that made it and you will want to share it with your friends- this is the heart behind branding and marketing with free postcards!
BB: How do RiverHOURS fit into your personal
philosophy?
MR: PoCards and
RiverHOURS are a natural fit. They both are about creating community.
When I first heard about RiverHOURS, I started thinking about how I could be a part of it and help it grow.
BB: When did you begin accepting RiverHOURS?
MR: Two years after I first heard of RiverHOURS, I was working for the Hood River Downtown Business Association [HRDBA] as interim Executive Director. Our major fundraising event lost its lead sponsor.
The HRDBA and GLCC
accepted my proposal to allow the GLCC to sponsor the event for $2,500 in RHs and I would accept my
salary in RHs. The plan
was that the HRDBA
would encourage businesses to get on board, I would
be motivated to work with the businesses and the GLCC would get exposure and a much needed
marketing boost.
BB: Why did you decide to accept them?
MR: RiverHOURS are a tangible means of getting
the ‘Buy Local’ message
into customer’s wallets and
businesses tills.
I believe that a strong local economy is built upon relationships and my PoCards business is built on strengthening relationships in a community.
BB: Where do you
earn and spend your
RiverHOURS?
MR: I spend my
RiverHOURS with the businesses that pay me in RHs. I buy food from Mother’s Marketplace; clothing and gifts from
Ruddy Duck; lunches and dinners at Solstice Café. Also I use them to tip baristas at coffee shops. I am happy to be a place where businesses considering participating in RHs can spend them. It makes me feel a strong sense of community with those businesses I exchange RH with.
BB: Do you think
RiverHOURS can help
the local economy?
MR: I would like to see more businesses utilizing RHs as a tool to engage
the community in the
‘Buy Local’ message.
RiverHOURS are still young. It takes time and the right circumstances [and
possibly a champion] to move this powerful tool
into the mainstream.
BB: What advice do you have for people who want to start their own business here?
MR: Find and fill an unmet need in the community.
BB: What plans do you have for yourself?
MR: Looking forward to … traveling to Mexico for the winter. I will be working while I’m on the road as PoCards continues to grow here and in other communities such as Bend and Aspen, CO- the plan is to expand licensing into more
communities in the
Northwest in 2010.
For more information, you can call Moria at
541-400-9510. Visit her PoCards website at
pocards.net.
